CASHMERE — The Cashmere School District will teach parents how to play like a teacher on Tuesday with their kindergarten-bound kids.

The meeting is the first of three “Ready for Kindergarten” workshops this year for families of Cashmere 4-year-olds. School staff will teach parents small things they can do every day with their children to better prepare them for literacy and reading.

The winter workshop will cover math skills and the spring session will deal with social-emotional development.

The school district will also give away bags of games relating to the topic, including magnetic letters, floor puzzles and other games. The idea is to make it fun, said Vale Elementary Principal Rhett Morgan.

“I want to stress that in no means are we wanting parents to go home and drill all these facts with kids for two hours,” Morgan said. “This is an opportunity for parents to play with children in a structured and organized way. It’s play with a purpose.”

The program will cost the school district about $150 a year per family, Morgan said.

“It’s absolutely a great investment,” Morgan said. “It’s much more difficult to remediate than to prevent, so we find that it’s an excellent value for us.”

As funding allows, the school district will expand the program to families of younger children.

“Eventually, we’d like the parents of a newborn baby to start classes three times a year, each time adding new tools and new strategies to work with their kids at home,” Morgan said.

About 42 families had signed up as of Friday, which represents about half of Vale’s kindergarten class next year, Morgan said.

The dinner, donated by the Rotary Club, begins at 6 p.m., followed by an orientation and class.

Call Vale Elementary at 782-2211 for reservations. Families who call after Tuesday may not be guaranteed materials.

Rachel Schleif: 664-7139

schleif@wenatcheeworld.com